Connacht Tribune
Ballinahinch tower’s restoration plans may come tumbling down
A leading Connemara archaeologist is trying to scupper the plans of billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien who wants to carry out works on a 16th century tower adjacent to Ballynahinch Castle near Recess.
It has been suggested that the stone works on the tower be secured on the island on which it is located should be excluded from tourist access and “left to nature”.
But archaeologist Erin Gibbins, in her submission to county planners, suggests that it may be transformed into a tourist facility and used for commercial purposes.
Denis O’Brien acquired Ballynahinch Castle four years ago. The castle itself is located on a small island, Castle Island, and not far from the main N59 Galway to Clifden road.
The General Manager of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Patrick O’Flaherty, has applied to Galway County Council for works to be carried out on the tower house.
It is stated in the application that with the consent of the National Monuments Service, there was careful removal of ivy from the structure and consolidation works have been carried out to the tower house and lodge to ensure the stability of the structures.
The tower is a three-storey structure but no roofs or ceilings remain and there was extensive ivy growth which is said to add to its decay.
It is stated in the application that the primary intention is to halt any further decay and make it safe for occasional visitors.
It is the intention of the owner to preserve the tower house in a state comparable to its existing state and with public safety in mind.
O’Brien, who bought Ballynahinch Castle for €6.5 million in 2013, wants to preserve the three-storey tower house by adding a zinc roof and inserting a new first floor level. He also wants to reinstate a natural slate roof and stone floors to an adjoining fishing lodge.
Respected archaeologist Erin Gibbons refers to heavy scaffolding at the site which has remained in place for over two and half years despite objections. She also alleges in her opposition to the application that works have been carried out without permission.
She has asked Galway County Council the reason for the proposed works to the roof and interior of the structure are being applied for.
“Why are there no archaeological mitigations listed in the application to ensure that the archaeological deposits within the area of the medieval castle be protected?
“This is not adequate given the nature and scale of the change of use of the building, which is not stated but is heavily implied, where flooring is to be put in as part of the development.
“Why floor and roof the buildings anyway, and the erection of a middle floor, as is being proposed, if it is intended to simply conserve loose stonework and features?” Erin Gibbons asks.
She does not believe that a flat zinc roof is appropriate on a medieval tower house given the high visual amenity value of the island and lake of Ballynahinch, which is overlooked by a busy roadway and located on the edge of the Twelve Bens.
“If this work is to be given permission, surely it should be first considered withreference to a tourism impact statement, as tourism footfall is likely to have a major impact on this little island, the entirety of which is an archaeological site.
“No such study accompanies this application and the application is seriously deficient as a consequence. Alternatively, no roofing or flooring should be installed and the island should be excluded from tourist access and left to nature, once re-pointing of internal walls and features is complete,” Ms Gibbons suggests.
A decision on the planning application is due early next month.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
